Informatica- A Successful Tool in Data Integration Space

Informatica Corporation has developed the ETL (Extract, Transform and Load) tool called Informatica. Informatica being one of the successfully leading data integration tool, it is used to integrate and move data between different software systems.

Informatica Power Center provides a sophisticated environment which allows data loading into a centralized location. Such centralized data locations could be Operational Data Store (ODS) or data warehouse.

ETL- Extract, Transform and Load

In Software terminology, it refers to a process in database usage:

• It Extracts data from data sources; be it homogeneous or heterogeneous.


• It transforms the data into a format which is feasible for storage which also makes it easy for querying the data or for data analysis.


• It Loads the data into a centralized locations such as Operational Data Store, Data Mart or Data Warehouse.

All these three functions are usually executed in parallel. While the system extracts the data, transformation process executes simultaneously by processing the already pulled data. The transformation process prepares the data for loading and the data loader starts its action by loading the already transformed data into centralized locations. All these phases work simultaneously without having to wait for each phase to complete to start the next action.

Informatica tool integrates data from numerous applications which are developed by different vendors which are hosted on different operating systems or platforms. Say for example, a healthcare system combines data from PMS (patient Monitoring System), EHR (Electronic Health Records), LIS (Laboratory Information Systems) or even Insurance.

Components of Informatica

Informatica or ETL tool comprises the following components:

•          Informatica domain - a primary management and administration unit within the Power Center.


•          Informatica Administrator – It’s a web application which helps to administer the domain and security of ETL tool.


•          Domain configuration – This is a set of RDBMS tables which can store the configuration information related to the database.


•          PowerCenter repository – This repository is located inside the RDBMS. Relational database table repository consists of all the instructions that are needed to extract, transform, and load data in the domain.


•          PowerCenter Repository Service and PowerCenter Integration Service – These services extracts data from the source, integrate the systems and load the data into the required target machines.


•          Web Services Hub – Web Service Hub is a gateway through which the functionality of ETL is accessible to the external clients.


•          SAP BW Service – This web service extracts and loads data to SAP NetWeaver BI.


•          Metadata Manager Service – This service executes the Metadata Manager Web application.


•          Reporting Service – Reporting service runs the Data Analyzer web application


•          PowerCenter Client – This consists all the tools to handle the repository, mapplets, design mappings and sessions to load the data. Power Center Client provides the following tools: Designer, Repository manager, workflow manager and Workflow monitor.

• Designer creates mappings which have the transformation instructions for the Integration Service.


• Repository Manager assigns permissions to users/groups and also manages folders.


• Workflow Manager creates schedules and executes the workflow. A workflow is described as a set of instructions which detail the functionality of task execution, extract, transform, and loading data.


• For each integration services, the Workflow Monitor tool will monitor the scheduled and running workflows.

Data sources and Loading

The Informatica tool accesses the below mentioned sources:

• Relational Databases of the system


• Files such as Fixed and delimited flat file, web logs, COBOL file, XML file etc.


• Access to other sources such as Mainframe applications, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, external web services and so on.

The tool has the functionality to load the data into the following targets:

• Relational Databases of the system


• Files such as Fixed and delimited flat file or XMLs.


• Load data to other targets like – Mainframe applications, Microsoft Access and external web services.  

One can load data into targets using native drivers or ODBC, FTP, or external loaders.

Informatica ETL tools have evolved to become a successful tool in data integration and data quality servicing market. With its high ‘Go Live’ success rate, capability of lean manufacturing, usability and mainstream marketing strategies the tool is providing an edge over the others in ETL tools market.